October Surprise?

Insiders Predict Bin Laden to Be Caught Before Election

 

By Vince Ryan

 

There is growing speculation in Washington that alleged terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden may be making a surprise appearance in U.S. custody just be fore the November election. Alan Abel son, the distinguished writer for Barron’s, a weekly publication of Dow Jones, noted in his column of Sept. 27, 2004, that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld let slip some classified information in a briefing at the National Press Club “that the man we are holding captive is not Saddam Hussein, who, indeed, was deep-sixed beneath the desolate sands, but none other than Osama bin Laden. (In case you’re wondering, it wasn’t Saddam, but one of his many doubles, who appeared before an Iraqi judge following his purported capture.)”

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) told The Hill newspaper in February that “bin Laden will be caught between now and the election. I think they’re on his trail now in a way they haven’t been all year. It will happen because we will be able to divert more resources [to hunting down bin La den].” Grassley declined to say where he got his information but he did say it was not from any intelligence briefing.

ALBRIGHT TOO?

In December 2003, former Secretary of State Madeleine Al bright said that President Bush may reveal the capture of bin Laden as an “October surprise” in time for the election.

Albright said this while waiting to appear on a Fox new television program. According to Fox news analyst Morton Kondracke, who was present, Albright said: “Do you suppose that the Bush administration has Osama bin Laden hidden away somewhere and will bring him out before the election?” Kondracke added: “She was not smiling.” Albright later said her comment on bin Laden was “tongue-in-cheek.” But Kondracke maintained she was serious.

All should unravel by Election Day. What might is speculation today will be known as either fact or fiction.